How to Effectively Clean & Disinfect Your Workplace

In a very short amount of time, coronavirus, or COVID-19, has impacted our world in ways we could never have imagined. For business owners and property managers, one thing remains the same: the need to clean, disinfect, and sanitize your building. 

Whether you’re considered an essential business and remain open or have shifted to alternative work arrangements, it’s never been more crucial to practice on-point sanitization measures.  

There is a great deal that is still unknown about COVID-19, but current research from the CDC suggests that it spreads in two ways: 

1. Being near other people. You can become infected when respiratory droplets from a contagious individual are inhaled or land on the mouth or nose. 

2. Coming into contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. A new study from the National Institutes of Health, CDC, UCLA, and Princeton University found that coronavirus can remain detectable for up to three days on plastic or stainless-steel surfaces. 

That second point is the very reason why you must disinfect surfaces properly. Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can ensure that correct disinfecting and sanitization practices are in place to help reduce the spread of coronavirus (and other germs and bacteria) in the workplace. 

Prepare Employees with Best Practices 

Knowledge is power. Make sure everyone who enters your building knows how they can help reduce the spread. You might consider special signage during this unprecedented time. 

Here are some other proactive measures to take: 

• Increase supplies of hand soap and hand sanitizer if you can find it. (Optimally, hand sanitizer should be 75% alcohol.) Encourage frequent hand washing that lasts for at least 20 seconds.

• Utilize no-touch technology where possible, including for lavatory faucets, soap dispensers, paper towel dispensers, hand sanitizer, and trash receptacles. 

• Provide disinfecting wipes so that employees can regularly wipe down all frequently contacted surfaces in their area or pre-wipe surfaces such as doorknobs, etc. before touching.

• Ensure employees are practicing social distancing by remaining at least six feet apart at all times – this means equipment should never be shared.

• This goes without saying, but if anyone is sick, let them know that they need to remain home. 

Perform Routine Environmental Cleaning 

So far, the recommendations for keeping up with cleaning during the coronavirus pandemic haven’t differed from those given during other viral outbreaks, such as the flu. Now is also an excellent time to improve your ventilation system and make sure an optimal amount of fresh air from the outside circulates throughout your facility. 

Janitorial staff should wear the proper protective gear and perform essential cleaning responsibilities at least once per day. The CDC recommends disinfecting frequently touched areas daily, but it might not hurt to address critical surfaces multiple times. 

Here are some of the most commonly touched surfaces: 

• Workstations 

• Keyboards 

• Phones 

• Handrails 

• Doorknobs 

• Elevator buttons 

• Sink Faucets 

• Refrigerator handles

• Light switches 

• Toilets 

The Difference Between Cleaning and Disinfecting 

The terms cleaning and disinfecting are often used interchangeably but make no mistake – they do not mean the same thing. Cleaning is when you use a soap-like product to remove visible dirt on surfaces. Cleaning can also remove germs but doesn’t necessarily kill them. That’s why it’s essential to follow a two-step process that also includes disinfecting. 

For proper sanitization, follow these steps: 

Step 1: Clean all dirty surfaces with a detergent or soap and water. This preps the surface for more intensive cleaning and also removes some germs. 

Step 2: Disinfect surfaces using an EPA-registered disinfectant to kill germs on surfaces. Most disinfectants need to remain on a surface for a period of up to five minutes to be effective. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific product you are using. When appropriately used, disinfectants will kill 100% of germs on a surface. 

Know When to Call the Pros

In the unfortunate event that an employee contracts coronavirus, it’s vital to take immediate and proactive measures to ensure the continued health of other workers and instill confidence in the safety of your facility. 

Jidan Cleaning is strictly following all CDC guidelines. We have undergone specific staff training so that you can be sure we’re ready to step in and provide you with a clean, safe and sanitary work environment at a moment’s notice in these uncertain times. 

We also offer electrostatic cleaning services which allow us to disinfect over 40,000 sq. feet of commercial building space per hour. This innovative new sanitization method provides a more precise distribution of disinfectant, resulting in a more efficient and uniform application. Since electrostatic spray equipment can disinfect a broader area in less amount of time than traditional methods of application, it saves time, energy, and costs associated with labor. 

To learn more about this advanced industrial cleaning method, or to discuss how our professional cleaning services can help your facility, contact Jidan Cleaning today.